Peer Recovery Specialist

The City of Virginia Beach Department of Human Services is seeking to hire a Peer Recovery Specialists (PRS) with lived experience to provide peer support services to adults with substance use disorders for the Intensive Outpatient Program. The ideal candidate will (have at minimum completed the 72 hour PRS training class in VA), Certified as a PRS with VA, and or Registered with the Virginia Board of Counseling as a PRS, experience working as a PRS, have lived experience specific to substance abuse use, and or mental illness, experience with facilitation or co-facilitating peer groups, documenting in a comprehensive health record, and working on a multidisciplinary team.

And here’s the exciting part… A $3,000 hiring bonus is being offered for this position!

• Responsible for provision of peer support services to adults with substance use disorders.
• Provide support through sharing personal life experience of recovery from a substance use disorder by giving resources, personal experiences, support, advocacy, education and coaching.
• Perform screenings and conduct recovery-oriented service planning.
• Work closely with members of the treatment team to include the medical providers, clinicians, case managers and other peer service specialists to provide client perspective.
• Assist clients in developing a Recovery Plan by identifying client’s goals, strengths, and steps toward recovery, to include needed supports.
• Assist clients with general problem solving and development of skills in obtaining services and support through coaching toward an increased sense of responsibility.
• Educate clients about available community resources and advocate for services on behalf of clients as needed.
• Assist in the development and facilitation of recovery-oriented groups, using educational tools and utilizing personal experiences with substance use and/or mental illness.
• Maintain accurate documentation consistent with agency guidelines, grant requirements, and licensure standards.
• Collaborate with multiple programs as part of a treatment team, community services providers, and significant others as necessary.
• Assist clients with developing skills and strategies to prevent relapse of substance addiction and/or mental health symptoms, reconnecting them with their recovery goals.

The City offersa
generous benefits package
which includes health, dental and life insurance,retirement,and savings plans, maternity/paternity and parental leave, and Holidays and Leave.

Hiring bonuses shall only be for new hires of original full-time employment or reemployment as defined in Human Resources Policy No. 5.0.

• $500 will be awarded in the first paycheck.
• $1,000 will be awarded upon completion of the six (6) month interim performance evaluation with an overall rating of “Meets Expectations”.
• $1,500 will be awarded upon completion of the employee’s one (1) year probationary period and a performance evaluation with an overall rating of “Meets Expectations”.